Fonti Medievali - San Gimignano - Tuscany

The medieval public springs of San Gimignano can be reached by a very short, steep descent down Via delle Fonti and through the fascinating Porta delle Fonti of the same name.

The old well is located in a charming corner just outside the city walls, near the Castello. It consists of 1a series of tanks covered with stone vaults drawing a total of ten arches, six of which are in the Romanesque style, round, dating from the 200s, and four in Gothic style, pointed, made in the 300s. The whole installation was built on an older structure dating back to the ninth century. The tanks are still fed by a rich spring and are home to a population of goldfish.

At the top of the arches, in the background, the Porta delle Fonti stands guard. It is one of the openings in the walls of San Gimignano. There used to be a statue that was later moved to the Arch of San Giovanni, near the Duomo.

Apart from this detail, the gate has remained exactly as it was in the Middle Ages. The gate still runs through this old winding path that winds its way up to the arch.

Willem Vandenameele